The EMLF Fall Symposium is right around the corner- October 11 through 13- and this year’s program chairs have been working hard with the planning committees to put together an excellent agenda. Click here for the full agenda and registration.
Fall Symposium Co-Chair Lucas Liben is a Partner in the oil & gas team in Reed Smith’s Energy and Natural Resources group who has over a decade of experience representing energy industry clients in a variety of cases involving all aspects of hydrocarbon development. Luke has been instrumental in putting together the agenda, particularly Thursday’s oil and gas focused track.
Luke says, “This will be one of my first conferences since Covid, and I’m really looking forward to catching up with folks I have not had an opportunity to see in quite a few years. It will also be my first trip to Lexington in some time because of the pandemic, and I’m excited to be back in the Bluegrass state.”
Lexington attorney Gary McCollum serves as the other Fall Symposium Co-Chair. Gary is the Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Alliance Coal, LLC, where he oversees and participates in litigation for administrative, regulatory, and employment law issues affecting Alliance Coal and its subsidiaries throughout Appalachia and the Illinois Basin.
“This year’s EMLF Fall Symposium highlights the breadth of the challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. energy industry – both today and in the years ahead,” Gary says. “In particular, I’m looking forward to a program that will take traditional practice areas – such as employment law and property rights – and explore the increased societal pressures that are impacting our industry – from expansion of marijuana legalization to solar fields in coal country.”
For the first time, the Fall Symposium will include a full day of solar focused programming that may be added to conference registration. The program will run the spectrum from siting, financing, and utility issues to legislative and regulatory priorities.
Andrew Smith will chair the Solar Institute. Andrew is a Member in Steptoe & Johnson’s Lexington, Kentucky office. Andrew handles complex litigation in varied forums, and frequently advises clients with respect to corporate governance. A portion of Andrew’s practice focuses on Kentucky’s renewable energy industry, and he serves on the EMLF Alternative Energy Task Force, which seeks to create programming that addresses issues germane to renewables practice.
Andrew has been an enthusiastic member of the Task Force as it works to expand EMLF programming in the renewables industry, while maintaining our commitment to traditional sources of power generation. On the upcoming Solar Institute, Andrew says “I’m most excited about our efforts to continue to expand our renewables programming. Particularly given the federal legislation recently adopted, this aspect of energy production and marketing will only grow moving forward. It’s great to be able to put on a full day related to solar, and I look forward to further branching out.
The Fall Symposium returns to beautiful Lexington, Kentucky again this year, which Gary considers home after having lived there longer than any other place. He suggests, “While you’re here, enjoy a game and a pork quesadilla at Winchell’s Sports Bar on Southland Drive, grab a slice of pizza at Goodfellas in the Distillery District, or enjoy the pecan crusted pork tenderloin at Merrick Inn.”
A lifelong Lexingtonian, Andrew’s list of things to do in Lexington includes:
- It’s October, so Keeneland!
- If you’re tired of business dinners at a steakhouse, try something like Lady Remoulade on North Broadway, or Pearl’s, on Limestone.
- I recommend having a happy hour drink at the Infinity Skybar in City Center. (I’m biased, as it’s connected to my office!)
- If it’s sunny, it’s hard to beat sitting outside and getting a chimichanga and a margarita at the new restaurant in Triangle Park, across from Rupp Arena.
- If you’re a bourbon enthusiast and don’t make it to Kentucky frequently, Justin’s House of Bourbon is a must-stop. It’s got older bourbons that can’t be found anywhere else, and they will let you try them!